---
title: "Accessibility Checker Rule Help: WCAG20_Table_Scope_Valid"
---
import "../../../styles/ToolHelp.scss"
import { CodeSnippet, Tag } from "carbon-components-react";

<div className="toolHelp">
<Row>
<Column colLg={16} colMd={8} colSm={4} className="toolHead">

### Value provided is invalid for the `scope` attribute

<div id="locLevel"></div>

Value for `scope` attribute must be "row", "col", "rowgroup", or "colgroup"

</Column>
</Row>
<Row>
<Column colLg={11} colMd={5} colSm={4} className="toolMain">

### Why is this important?

Complex data tables require programmatical association between data cells and header cell using the `scope` attribute. This data-to-header relationship is conveyed through assistive technology and helps the user understand the data presented in the table.

<div id="locSnippet"></div>

### What to do

 * If this table only has headers in the first row and/or column, the `scope` attribute is not needed;
 * OR, to indicate a row header, use `<th scope="row">`;
 * OR, to indicate a header for a group of rows, use `<th scope="rowgroup">`;
 * OR, to indicate a column header, use `<th scope="column">`;
 * OR, to indicate a header for a group of columns, use `<th scope="colgroup">`.

</Column>
<Column colLg={5} colMd={3} colSm={4} className="toolLeft">

### About this requirement

[IBM 1.3.1 Info and relationships](https://www.ibm.com/able/guidelines/ci162/info_and_relationships.html)
[WCAG 2.1 technique H63](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Techniques/html/H63)

### Who does this affect?

 * Blind people using screen readers
 * People with low vision using screen magnification

</Column>
</Row>
</div>

export default ({ children, _frontmatter }) => (<React.Fragment>{children}</React.Fragment>)
